Sunday, 31 July 2011

A robber who pounced on an unsuspecting shopkeeper as he took his £16,990 weekly takings to the bank – blowing the lot on drugs and gambling within a month – has been jailed for five years and two months.

Removal man Robert Hannifin, 39, of King Henry’s Road, Primrose Hill, North London and an unknown accomplice targeted the victim who followed the same routine every Saturday morning.

The defendant snatched the rucksack stuffed with cash from the back seat of the victim’s car as his accomplice held the shopkeeper in a headlock.

Friday, 29 July 2011

Police are offering a £20,000 reward in a bid to solve the execution of a popular NorthLondon DJ – ambushed a year ago.

Father-of-six Wayne Powell, 38, (pictured) – aka DJ Connoisseur – was murdered by a mystery gunman in Higham Station Avenue, Chingford at 11:10pm on July 5, last year.

Detective Inspector Dave Rock said: “A year has passed and Wayne's family deserve to know who is responsible for his death.

“Wayne was a good man, he was not involved in criminality or gangs. He worked hard for a living and was universally popular.

“If you have any information or suspicions about who killed him, please come forward.”

Wayne, who was also a keen bodybuilder and worked as a customer assistant for the London Underground at Seven Sisters, was in his car close to the gym he used when a lone gunman approached the vehicle.

Wayne, of Stonebridge Road, Tottenham got out of the black BMW to talk to him and the suspect fired four shots before calmly making off along a footpath in the direction of Coningsby Gardens.

He was taken by ambulance to the Royal London Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Operation Trident – which investigates violent black-on-black crime in the capital – are leading the investigation.

Anne Boriel, Wayne’s partner and mother of their eight-month old son – also named Wayne - said: “My partner Wayne was a good hard-working man who loved his family.

“When he was killed I was pregnant with his child. Baby Wayne will never get the chance to meet his daddy.

“Wayne's six children will never see him again. Neither will his parents or brothers and sisters who are equally affected by this senseless killing.

“In addition to his family, Wayne loved bodybuilding and DJing. As DJ Connoisseur, he was well-loved on the music scene but in particular on Energy FM.

“On the day after his murder we were touched by the sheer volume of listeners expressing their grief and sympathy.

“The police have told us that during the course of their investigation they have not heard a single negative word said about Wayne. He was universally popular.

“We can think of no reason why anybody would want to kill him. He was a big strong guy but never used his physical presence to bully or gain advantage, he would shy away from confrontation and help anyone whenever he could do so.

“This was not a gangland murder. Wayne had no links to any gang, drugs, guns or crime.

“Someone knew exactly where Wayne would be on the night of Monday July 5. That person had ready access to a gun and was prepared to use it - coolly and callously.

“We cannot believe that person has not bragged or expressed his guilt to another about what he did.

“It should not need money to encourage people to come forward but the police are offering a reward of up to £20,000.

“I am imploring anyone who can help identify the killer to contact the police so we can ensure no other family has to go through what we have experienced and that justice and closure can be achieved for Wayne.”

The Powell family said: “We, the family of Wayne Alexander Powell, are again appealing to the community for help in solving his murder and are asking that any information - no matter how small or trivial – be passed onto the officers dealing with this case.

“The person or persons responsible for this crime, and those who have information, live in this community and we are asking you from our hearts to please help us find his murderer.

“We are appealing for your help in bringing to justice those responsible for this crime and his senseless death which has saddened his family, his friends and the community.

“It has also robbed his children of having their father's guidance in their young lives. If there is anyone out there who knows something, anything, we are appealing to your conscience and hearts to please help us and the police to find his murderer.”

The gunman is described as possibly black, about 5ft 10ins and wearing a tracksuit. The weapon used is believed to be a handgun.

The motive for the murder remains unclear.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the incident room on 020 8733 4704. If you wish to remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

On 12 July 2010, a man aged 29 was arrested in connection with the inquiry and was taken to a north London police station. He has since been released with no further action.

On 1 November 2010, a man aged 37 was arrested on suspicion of murder. He has since been released with no further action.

On 17 November 2010, a man aged 34 was arrested on suspicion of murder. He has since been released with no further action.

Thursday, 28 July 2011

The family of a young Enfield man shot dead at midnight four years ago have begged for help in tracking-down the number one suspect – believed to have fled abroad.

Duane Tomlin, 20, (pic.top) was gunned down as he got out of a mini-cab in Dendridge Close on July 5, 2007.

Police are still hunting chief suspect Robert Bernard, 28, (pic.bottom) who fled to Thailand hours after the shooting and who has family ties to Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago and St. Lucia.

A white Vauxhall Combo van began following Tomlin’s mini-cab and shots were fired as he got out near his family home and he was fatally injured.

The minicab driver was uninjured but was later treated at hospital suffering shock.

The van was found abandoned and on fire a short time later in nearby Lackmore Road.

Detective Chief Inspector John Crossley of Operation Trident – which investigates violent black-on-black crime - said: “Duane's family deserve some justice and to be able to move on with their lives and see someone convicted of his murder.

“We would urge anyone with information, especially about Robert Bernard’s current whereabouts, to contact us as soon as possible.”

Bernard is described as black, 6ft 4ins tall and of heavy build.

Anyone who can assist should call the Trident incident room on 020 8733 4212 (44 20 8733 4212 from outside the UK).

Wednesday, 27 July 2011

A drug-addict burglar who smashed his way into a suburban family home – snatching £3,500 worth of valuables, including a sentimental wedding ring – somehow dodged prison today.

Hakeem Ojo, 42, who has 97 previous offences to his name, searched every room in the house and was caught when police matched blood he left after smashing a window to the national DNA database.

He pleaded guilty at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court to burgling the house (pictured) in Gosberton Road, Balham on March 26, stealing a mobile phone; two Mac laptops; a watch; wedding ring and £25 cash.

The occupier returned home from the dry cleaners at 6:30pm to discover broken glass from a smashed window on the living room floor and evidence of a search.

Items were missing and have never been recovered.

When police tracked Ojo down on April 11 he denied the break-in, insisting he shared a needle with a known burglar when injecting heroin, claiming this is how his blood was at the scene.

The father-of-two, who has spent most of his adult life in custody, eventually confessed, revealing he sold the items to a mini-cab driver to raise cash for drugs.

“Their sanctuary was violated,” Judge Judith Coello told Ojo, after hearing the couple who own the house were left “scared”.

“You have a long and depressing record fuelled by an addiction to class a drugs,” she added. “I have decided to give you one last chance.”

Ojo breach two similar drug rehabilitation orders last year.

He was sentenced to an eighteen-month community order with a drug rehabilitation requirement, plus 100 hours community service work.

Tuesday, 26 July 2011

Police hunting a bogus cabbie New Year’s Eve rapist who attacked a lone woman in his car have released this CCTV image of the suspect and his vehicle.

The car cruised the area of Fortis Green Road and Colney Hatch Lane before picking up the victim, aged in her forties, between 2am and 3am in Muswell Hill Broadway, North London.

She had been celebrating the New Year and believed her assailant was a genuine mini-cab driver.

He locked the doors and drove to nearby Sydney Road where he raped the woman and then forced her out of the car.

She made her way home and called police.

The Metropolitan Police’s Sapphire Unit are investigating and Detective Constable Alistair Woods said: “This was a frightening assault on a vulnerable victim and although the images are not clear, the two pictures together may enable someone to identify who the man is and give us a name.

“I would urge anyone with information to contact the police and can guarantee they will be spoken to in confidence.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the incident room on 020 8733 5062 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Sunday, 24 July 2011

A mother who was passed out drunk as her 18 month-old daughter plunged from a faulty first-floor window during sub-zero weather and wandered onto a main road angrily told police who woke her: "Little bugger. I'll fucking kill her."

Her daughter fell onto concrete, suffering facial injuries - which included cuts swelling and bruising - and was found wandering on the main road at 3.50am by a postman, who took her to his sorting office and raised the alarm.

The 37 year-old jobless mum-of-two (pictured) had downed 3-4 Bacardi doubles and an empty rum bottle was found on the floor of her housing association flat in Arden Grove, Harpenden, Hertfordshire.

St. Albans Crown Court heard on friday she knew the window lock was faulty, but did nothing about it, claiming it was the association's responsibility to fix it.

She pleaded guilty to one count of child cruelty and was sentenced to a twelve month community order, plus a three month 7pm to 7am curfew, which will be monitored with a tag.

"But for the grace of God your daughter could have been more severely injured, if she had landed on her head for instance," Judge Ronald Moss told the defendant. "It could have been appalling."

Prosecutor Mr Andrew Sarkany told the court the defendant put her daughter to bed at 10pm on March 18, but passed out in front of the television after drinking alone into the early hours.

"There is a toy box in front of a window that leads to a sloping roof and the lock on the window did not work.

"She knew it was faulty and said to was the responsibility of the housing association.

Friday, 22 July 2011

Two teenagers have been charged with the murder of a 20 year-old man in South-West London – fatally stabbed on a council estate in the early hours of the morning.

Mahad Mohammed (pictured) of Sporle Court, Winstanley Estate, Battersea was stabbed to death near Pennethorne House, Wye Street at 1:30am on June 22.

Jermaine Sawyers, 18, of no fixed abode and Omar Harrison,18, of Kenmore Road, Harrow, North-West London are charged with murder and appeared in custody at Croydon Magistrates’ Court today.

A post-mortem examination took place at St. George’s Mortuary, Tooting and the murder was investigated by the Homicide and Serious Crime Command.

An incident room was opened under Detective Chief Inspector Dave Manning who said during an earlier witness appeal: “We would like to hear from anyone who saw or heard anything between the hours of 11pm and 2am in and around Pennethorne House.

“We believe at this early stage that there may have been a group of youths hanging around the estate prior to this murder and residents may have seen them.

“We believe that Mahad may have had an altercation with a group of youths earlier in the evening and would like to hear from anyone who witnessed this or who may have seen this group in the local area.

“We have had a good response from the local community so far but would urge anyone with information to contact us.”